A very fine silver, silver-gilt and enamel singing bird box by Rochat,

full size,the fusée movement stamped *58, repeated as 458 to top of key compartment bay in movement chamber, rectangular bellows with pad-spring return, the bird with finely banded and geometrically ringed multi-colour feathered plumage, moving bone beak, head, wings and tailfeather to continuous birdsong, rising through pressed, tooled and polished solid gilt grille, with the underplate neatly meeting the seem, lid interior with busy floral swag spray of roses, violets and leaves on white enamel ground, silver border of petit wave scroll frieze, the lid top with painted enamel view of extensive snow-capped mountains under blue sky before lowland shore, large lake scene and a small path cut into rock, flanked by tress and other greenery in the foreground, stave tooled gilt border, in silver case with extensive geometric tooling, the top with corner spandrels in gilt, elaborately tooled to good depth with open rose heads, leaf curls and C scrolls, start/stop slide to front centre also gilt, with delicate cobalt blue enamel panels framing top, all sides and underside, tooled insets in silver and the corners, edges and intermediate bands in rococo taste with duet linier-wave ground, with a key - 3.1/2in. (9cm) wide

Footnotes

As with most signing bird boxes by Rochat, the serial number which his stamped on the movement plate, is obscured by the spring ratchet - namely the '4'. But brief removal has confirmed the number as being 458, which is repeated to the case interior as described. This example is presented is superb original condition, and with no restorer or repairer signatures noted in or outside, it is presumed that this has not seen a workshop bench since day one. Excellent birdsong with good melody and pace.

This sale is now finished. If you are interested in consigning in future sales, please contact the specialist department. If you have queries about lots purchased in this sale, please contact customer services.

Buyers' Obligations

ALL BIDDERS MUST AGREE THAT THEY HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD BONHAMS' CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THEM, AND AGREE TO PAY THE BUYER'S PREMIUM AND ANY OTHER CHARGES MENTIONED IN THE NOTICE TO BIDDERS. THIS AFFECTS THE BIDDERS LEGAL RIGHTS.

If you have any complaints or questions about the Conditions of Sale, please contact your nearest customer services team.

Buyers' Premium and Charges

For all Sales categories excluding Wine, Coins & Medals and Motor Cars and Motorcycles:A successful bidder at this sale will be required to pay Bonhams 1793 Limited ("Bonhams") a premium calculated as follows: 25% on the first £100,000 of the hammer price20% on the excess of £100,001 and up to £2,000,000 of the hammer price12% on the excess of £2,000,001 of the hammer price

VAT at 20% will be payable on the amount of the premium.

The premium is payable for the services to be provided by Bonhams in the Buyer's Agreement which is contained in the catalogue for this Sale and for the opportunity to bid for the Lot at the Sale.